Post by victorc on Sept 27, 2010 3:11:57 GMT -5
There are many ways to check and maintain our uniform and equipment but sometimes even the best of us has ran into certain issues with our gears.
This was quite evident from our last ETO D-Day Airborne battle. We had a few issues with uniforms. Crotch ripped, suspenders broke, & buttons popped. A few had gun jams. Gears falling apart and foot issues from boots not properly broke in. You are not an effective member of the team if you are not 100%.
If they are the old trustee WWII items, probably nothing to worry but even those eventually will wear out and has to be replaced. Buy new items of good quality not junk. Especially the ones non-us made are the ones to watch out for as they are cheaply made. Most of our senior NCOs and veteran reenactors pretty much know which brands and items to choose from.
So here are a few tips that I have collected from different sources as well as my own personal experience in field gear maintenance. If you have a good ideas, please do add and share. We want to hear it too!
1)Ripped crotch: If you find yourself in these awful predicament, do not sew the same stitch line where it was before. Instead add a piece of material of like colors in that ripped area from the inside of the pants to reinforce it.
2) Broken Suspenders: Try to buy suspenders of like that are of stretch kind to alleviate pressure on the suspenders as well as the buttons that they hook to. If you are pretty crafty, you can make your own with a sewing machine. Materials are available at all cloth material store like JOANNs fabric.
Ranger Tip: In the 1940s, suspenders are very important part of your uniform. Pants were designed to be baggy and loose to have more freedom of movement. But they need something to hold them up. So use them.
3) New Boots: Cant say enough about these issue. Please make sure the shoes you buy fits you properly. Try them on with your comfy inserts inside the boots. If not you will have issues in the field. No joke!! Forget the idea of soaking them in hot water while wearing them. Water will ruin your boots eventually. Instead use a saddle soap inside and outside of the boots. Then sit in a nice comfy chair and bend the hell out of them back and forth while watching your favorite TV Show. Next simply wear them until they are broken in. Rough terrain with hills and dips will def get a good test workout. Give your feet rest in between each outing as not to blister your feet.
Ranger tip: Use stick deodorant, wiping it on the bottom of your feet prior to wearing socks. It'll keep your feet from sweating, resulting in less moisture buildup and friction from your socks.
4) Physical Fitness: I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being fit in the field. Your body is the most important equipment of all. Yes as reenactors we do light hikes and jogs but even then it just makes sense to be in shape. These type of combat scenario were designed for the young. So stay fit as much as you can. Excluding people with medical issues of course.
Ranger tip: Work in these 3 areas when working out, strength & condition (weights), cardio (jog, jump rope or box a heavy bag), and flexibility (stretch damn it!!)
5) Lastly, the best way to check your gear is to simply wear them on a hike prior to actual use. Trails are best if not stay on dirt roads. That way you see how it feels and handle while under duress. Especially back packs and boots. It is also a good way to build muscles in certain areas that is essential in the field when you carry these extra load. Try jogging in between outings to see how the load feels and how the straps are holding up. Its also a good way to get used to having extra load. With a full gear and haversack you carry between 30 to 40 lbs of extra weight. That is why the combat related job skills in the military, especially the infantry does allot of road marches.
Ranger Tip: If you plan this 3 to 4 weeks earlier, you should have little or no problems at all with your gear or your body.
This was quite evident from our last ETO D-Day Airborne battle. We had a few issues with uniforms. Crotch ripped, suspenders broke, & buttons popped. A few had gun jams. Gears falling apart and foot issues from boots not properly broke in. You are not an effective member of the team if you are not 100%.
If they are the old trustee WWII items, probably nothing to worry but even those eventually will wear out and has to be replaced. Buy new items of good quality not junk. Especially the ones non-us made are the ones to watch out for as they are cheaply made. Most of our senior NCOs and veteran reenactors pretty much know which brands and items to choose from.
So here are a few tips that I have collected from different sources as well as my own personal experience in field gear maintenance. If you have a good ideas, please do add and share. We want to hear it too!
1)Ripped crotch: If you find yourself in these awful predicament, do not sew the same stitch line where it was before. Instead add a piece of material of like colors in that ripped area from the inside of the pants to reinforce it.
2) Broken Suspenders: Try to buy suspenders of like that are of stretch kind to alleviate pressure on the suspenders as well as the buttons that they hook to. If you are pretty crafty, you can make your own with a sewing machine. Materials are available at all cloth material store like JOANNs fabric.
Ranger Tip: In the 1940s, suspenders are very important part of your uniform. Pants were designed to be baggy and loose to have more freedom of movement. But they need something to hold them up. So use them.
3) New Boots: Cant say enough about these issue. Please make sure the shoes you buy fits you properly. Try them on with your comfy inserts inside the boots. If not you will have issues in the field. No joke!! Forget the idea of soaking them in hot water while wearing them. Water will ruin your boots eventually. Instead use a saddle soap inside and outside of the boots. Then sit in a nice comfy chair and bend the hell out of them back and forth while watching your favorite TV Show. Next simply wear them until they are broken in. Rough terrain with hills and dips will def get a good test workout. Give your feet rest in between each outing as not to blister your feet.
Ranger tip: Use stick deodorant, wiping it on the bottom of your feet prior to wearing socks. It'll keep your feet from sweating, resulting in less moisture buildup and friction from your socks.
4) Physical Fitness: I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being fit in the field. Your body is the most important equipment of all. Yes as reenactors we do light hikes and jogs but even then it just makes sense to be in shape. These type of combat scenario were designed for the young. So stay fit as much as you can. Excluding people with medical issues of course.
Ranger tip: Work in these 3 areas when working out, strength & condition (weights), cardio (jog, jump rope or box a heavy bag), and flexibility (stretch damn it!!)
5) Lastly, the best way to check your gear is to simply wear them on a hike prior to actual use. Trails are best if not stay on dirt roads. That way you see how it feels and handle while under duress. Especially back packs and boots. It is also a good way to build muscles in certain areas that is essential in the field when you carry these extra load. Try jogging in between outings to see how the load feels and how the straps are holding up. Its also a good way to get used to having extra load. With a full gear and haversack you carry between 30 to 40 lbs of extra weight. That is why the combat related job skills in the military, especially the infantry does allot of road marches.
Ranger Tip: If you plan this 3 to 4 weeks earlier, you should have little or no problems at all with your gear or your body.
